The parish council have been working hard to establish a new children's play area on the cycle track in Woodchester and we were delighted to be involved and to make a difference ensuring that the play area also improved biodiversity.  

Firstly, we met with Councillor Dunbar and his fellow councillors to discuss where the play area was going to be and to listen to their thoughts about making everything as environmentally friendly and locally sourced as possible, including the play equipment.  It was very exciting knowing that we would be able to make a difference and contribute to something very important and very real. 

After meeting the councillors, we conducted some research of our own about the different creatures we wanted to attract to the play area and the sorts of plants that would help sustain them.  This included bats, insects, birds, bees and butterflies.  Once we felt more informed, we contacted the councillors and asked if we could have some bat boxes and requested particular plants, including lavender.  

Later, once construction of the playground was completed, we walked down to the play area and met the councillors so that we could plant all the new plants.  This was quite hard work but because we all helped, the job was soon done and the playground looked great.  It made us feel very proud especially when the playground was formally opened to the public by Councillor Robinson and we hope that our community, including the wildlife, will enjoy it for many years to come.  

Last weekend the nation witnessed the coronation of King George III.  The historical significance of this event was explored in school and coronation themed activities took place on Friday afternoon as part of our Red, White and Blue day.  We were blessed with a short spell of bright sunshine in the afternoon and classes had a little tea party in the afternoon.  Children enjoyed sharing this social time together, chatting and playing on the school field. 

 Nick, Si and Steve, three of our parents, supported the planting of our new orchard and mini forest providing equipment and donating their time to help the Eco Committee organise and realise their ambition to increase bio diversity within our school grounds.   This was in response to a whole school vote on how the children would prefer to mark the coronation.  The children chose well, thinking about future benefits for the school and our planet.  Parents kindly donated £53.66 towards the cost of the fruit trees during a non-uniform day.  Nick, helped the Eco Committee by organising the trees as well as contacting the Woodland Trust.  He even managed to acquire free tree plugs from the Woodland Trust and a huge discount from the garden centre for the fruit trees.  Jon at Nailsworth Blue Diamond Garden Centre was extremely generous and  Nick’s company Excelsior Ecology has also kindly supplied two trees.  The Eco Committee would like to thank everyone for helping bring our new orchard and micro forest to life.  It was great fun deciding where to plant the fruit trees so that they would thrive and provide some shade on our school field.